Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

early morning

In Gbaya, the notion of early morning is emphasized with the ideophone sút as in the referenced verses.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (1 Samuel 29:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 29:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “The next morning, David woke/got up with his people and returned to the country of the Philistines. But the Philistines went to Jezreel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So, first thing in the morning, David and his men left the land of the Philistines. The Philistines, however, went up to Jezreel.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So David and his men got up early-in-the-morning, and they returned to the land of the Filistinhon, and the Filistinhon on-the-other-hand went to Jezreel.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So David and his men got up early the following morning and returned to the area where the Philistia people lived. And the Philistia army went up to Jezreel.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 29:11

So translates the Hebrew conjunction waw. Here it expresses the idea that David left in the manner suggested by Achish in the previous verse.

Jezreel: see the comments on verse 1.

Revised Standard Version faithfully translates the Hebrew verb went up. The Philistines, who lived along the sea coast, went up into the hills and mountains to fight the Israelites. In some languages there may be special verbs that indicate going up into hills. Many translations omit the imagery of “going up” into the hills and “going down” from them. If translators choose not to maintain that imagery here, they may wish to use a technical military word as New Jerusalem Bible has done: “And the Philistines marched on Jezreel.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .